My very shy 8-year old boy Riley was diagnosed recently and I have just begun insulin once a day with a recheck at the vet next week to see if we need to go to twice a day. The first shot was easy but he fought the second one today (I have a few new scars). He's usually very gentle but does not like to be restrained and he's not good with any kind of change. On the plus side, he was already eating some wet food (likes pate especially) and he has not lost weight. I have two immediate issues: 1) Food: I was feeding 1/2 cup of dry plus 1/4 small can of wet. In switching to all canned food, I'm not sure how much to give him. He weighs 11 lbs. The directions on most cans say to feed 2 cans / 6-8 lbs which seems like a lot. I increased to 1 can per day but now I wonder if that's not enough? He has been less active than usual, but not wobbly. 2) He is peeing outside his box although he very politely uses a pad (the type for puppy training) in front of the box. He's also not willing to let me be near him when he goes. At this point, I'm using only the urine sticks. I tried to swipe it in the urine on the pad, but I don't think I was able to get enough for a reading. Until he gets more used to the routine, I don't think I can consider using a monitor (nor am I ready to tackle that one just yet). Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
Riley - start up issues
- Thread starter Laine
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Margie and Jackson
Member Since 2019
There’s no way to tell how much insulin he needs without testing. I can shoot and test my cat without restraining him, so you might Be able to do that in the future. There’s lots of information about how to test on the site. You can try to desensitize Riley by rubbing his ears when you’re petting him or giving him fake tests by rubbing his ears in your testing location and giving a treat.
Idjit's mom
Member Since 2018
Hi Laine, glad to see you here in the Main forum. And thank you very much for creating the signature.
I had a system worked out when I was injecting Idjit. Now, I am a senior, a bit creaky unfortunately and I had to work out a way to get Idjit's shot done without contorting myself to floor level with possible injury.
I warmed up Idjit's food, prepared the syringe and we adjourned to the bedroom. I had a big towel on the bed because Idjit can be a bit messy at times, and I set the dish on the bed, Idjit hopped up and got busy, I was able to tent his skin and inject the insulin. He rarely noticed, and never objected.
I did tell you that my vet also advised one shot a day, and Lantus does much better with injections at 12 hour intervals in cats. I didn't have syringes with 1/2 U markings and we were blundering around trying to get some, while learning to test and making sure we were testing as recommended here plus adjusting his diet to an all wet low carb diet, when he gently slid into remission, much to our surprise. Remission is when a diabetic cat does not need insulin and is diet controlled. However, before remission, I did happen to test midday once and his blood sugar was heading down toward lower numbers than you want to see. If I had not been testing, well, I don't want to think about what might have happened.
Therefore I would advise getting Riley used to the idea of you handling his ears in preparation for testing his blood sugar at home. You choose a testing stations, somewhere comfortable for both of you with good lighting. Give him a low carb treat, like a piece or two of plain cooked chicken, rub and stroke his ears, pet and praise, give another treat and let him go. Do this as many times a day as you can manage.
I had a system worked out when I was injecting Idjit. Now, I am a senior, a bit creaky unfortunately and I had to work out a way to get Idjit's shot done without contorting myself to floor level with possible injury.
I warmed up Idjit's food, prepared the syringe and we adjourned to the bedroom. I had a big towel on the bed because Idjit can be a bit messy at times, and I set the dish on the bed, Idjit hopped up and got busy, I was able to tent his skin and inject the insulin. He rarely noticed, and never objected. I did tell you that my vet also advised one shot a day, and Lantus does much better with injections at 12 hour intervals in cats. I didn't have syringes with 1/2 U markings and we were blundering around trying to get some, while learning to test and making sure we were testing as recommended here plus adjusting his diet to an all wet low carb diet, when he gently slid into remission, much to our surprise. Remission is when a diabetic cat does not need insulin and is diet controlled. However, before remission, I did happen to test midday once and his blood sugar was heading down toward lower numbers than you want to see. If I had not been testing, well, I don't want to think about what might have happened.
Therefore I would advise getting Riley used to the idea of you handling his ears in preparation for testing his blood sugar at home. You choose a testing stations, somewhere comfortable for both of you with good lighting. Give him a low carb treat, like a piece or two of plain cooked chicken, rub and stroke his ears, pet and praise, give another treat and let him go. Do this as many times a day as you can manage.
Veronica & Babu-chiri
Member Since 2016
First of all Wellcome!!
Regarding the food when giving wet food it may look like is a lot more but since part of it is water is ok is not that much and unless he's overweight you do not want him losing weight right now.
As for only shooting once a day my vet made me do the same and let's just say it was a mess, Lantus, actually all insulins in cats, need to be shot twice a day because cat's metabolism is different from dog's or human metabolisms
Is great that you are switching to a low carb food but you do NEED to monitor his blood glucose levels because that change can in itself lower his blood glucose a lot and if on top of that you give insulin he may go too low and that is VERY DANGEROUS. I know is scary but testing at home can be done and there's a lot of people here that can help you with that
The problem with monitoring with urine strips is that is going to give you an idea of how he was a while before you took the sample, not how he is and if he starts going under 200 (approximately ) it won't show anything and you really don't know how he's doing.
Regarding the problem he's having in getting into his litter box could be because he's has diabetic neuropathy (here's the link for more information on that http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/feline-diabetic-neuropathy-weak-back-legs.178252/ ) that is treatable you have to give him B12 vitamin, most people here use zobaline if you can get it where you live it will really help him
Regarding the food when giving wet food it may look like is a lot more but since part of it is water is ok is not that much and unless he's overweight you do not want him losing weight right now.
As for only shooting once a day my vet made me do the same and let's just say it was a mess, Lantus, actually all insulins in cats, need to be shot twice a day because cat's metabolism is different from dog's or human metabolisms
Is great that you are switching to a low carb food but you do NEED to monitor his blood glucose levels because that change can in itself lower his blood glucose a lot and if on top of that you give insulin he may go too low and that is VERY DANGEROUS. I know is scary but testing at home can be done and there's a lot of people here that can help you with that
The problem with monitoring with urine strips is that is going to give you an idea of how he was a while before you took the sample, not how he is and if he starts going under 200 (approximately ) it won't show anything and you really don't know how he's doing.
Regarding the problem he's having in getting into his litter box could be because he's has diabetic neuropathy (here's the link for more information on that http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/feline-diabetic-neuropathy-weak-back-legs.178252/ ) that is treatable you have to give him B12 vitamin, most people here use zobaline if you can get it where you live it will really help him
Hi Laine, glad to see you here in the Main forum. And thank you very much for creating the signature.
I had a system worked out when I was injecting Idjit. Now, I am a senior, a bit creaky unfortunately and I had to work out a way to get Idjit's shot done without contorting myself to floor level with possible injury.
I did tell you that my vet also advised one shot a day, and Lantus does much better with injections at 12 hour intervals in cats. I didn't have syringes with 1/2 U markings and we were blundering around trying to get some, while learning to test and making sure we were testing as recommended here plus adjusting his diet to an all wet low carb diet, when he gently slid into remission, much to our surprise. Remission is when a diabetic cat does not need insulin and is diet controlled. However, before remission, I did happen to test midday once and his blood sugar was heading down toward lower numbers than you want to see. If I had not been testing, well, I don't want to think about what might have happened.
Therefore I would advise getting Riley used to the idea of you handling his ears in preparation for testing his blood sugar at home. You choose a testing stations, somewhere comfortable for both of you with good lighting. Give him a low carb treat, like a piece or two of plain cooked chicken, rub and stroke his ears, pet and praise, give another treat and let him go. Do this as many times a day as you can manage.
Thank you. Something similar to your ritual might work, but I have been advised to wait 15-20 after feeding to give the injection. I guess it depends on the overall picture. I suspect we will have to go to 2 injections, but I don't think I can just decide to do this on my own until the next visit. And yes, I'll start rubbing his ears. He does like that, at least.Hi Laine, glad to see you here in the Main forum. And thank you very much for creating the signature.
I had a system worked out when I was injecting Idjit. Now, I am a senior, a bit creaky unfortunately and I had to work out a way to get Idjit's shot done without contorting myself to floor level with possible injury.
I did tell you that my vet also advised one shot a day, and Lantus does much better with injections at 12 hour intervals in cats. I didn't have syringes with 1/2 U markings and we were blundering around trying to get some, while learning to test and making sure we were testing as recommended here plus adjusting his diet to an all wet low carb diet, when he gently slid into remission, much to our surprise. Remission is when a diabetic cat does not need insulin and is diet controlled. However, before remission, I did happen to test midday once and his blood sugar was heading down toward lower numbers than you want to see. If I had not been testing, well, I don't want to think about what might have happened.
Therefore I would advise getting Riley used to the idea of you handling his ears in preparation for testing his blood sugar at home. You choose a testing stations, somewhere comfortable for both of you with good lighting. Give him a low carb treat, like a piece or two of plain cooked chicken, rub and stroke his ears, pet and praise, give another treat and let him go. Do this as many times a day as you can manage.
Idjit's mom
Member Since 2018
With Lantus you do not have to wait after feeding to give the injection. That is the case with some other insulins, but not Lantus. It's not one of the insulins where you have to be sure that kitty has eaten enough before the injections, and the vet may not be aware of that, or remember it. With Lantus, we test then feed and shoot, all within about 15-20 minutes. Being able to shoot while kitty's head is in the food dish is a definite advantage.
You can start learning about Lantus and how it works by visiting the Lantus forum HERE and reading the yellow tagged stickies at the top of the page, beginning with this: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/the-basics-new-to-the-group-start-here.18139/
There is a lot of information there, Laine. Don't let that dismay you, it's all doable, just have to take it step by step.
You can start learning about Lantus and how it works by visiting the Lantus forum HERE and reading the yellow tagged stickies at the top of the page, beginning with this: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/the-basics-new-to-the-group-start-here.18139/
There is a lot of information there, Laine. Don't let that dismay you, it's all doable, just have to take it step by step.
CandyH & Catcat
Member Since 2019
it's true, a great many vets have minimal information about how to deal with diabetes in cats, on a 24/7 basis -- they know what they have read in books and articles, what they learned through education, and much of that is outdated or incomplete -- they also listen to the manufacturers' reps who call on them, which may not give them the whole story
insulin twice a day is what works for cats, with their high metabolism and special dietary needs -- cats are NOT dogs, when it comes to this .. and your vet may be more familiar with diabetes in dogs
listen to the other members here, many of them have dealt successfully with diabetes in their sugarcats for YEARS -- they have been a godsend for those of us new to the situation
insulin twice a day is what works for cats, with their high metabolism and special dietary needs -- cats are NOT dogs, when it comes to this .. and your vet may be more familiar with diabetes in dogs
listen to the other members here, many of them have dealt successfully with diabetes in their sugarcats for YEARS -- they have been a godsend for those of us new to the situation
(GA) Gypsy's Parent
Member Since 2019
Waves to Laine from Santa Clara!
The best advice for diabetes will be from someone with experience managing the disease. Your vet likely does not have that experience. I read post after post of vet advice to increase dosage. And increase again. Diabetes is very complicated and the organs react in unexpected ways. Increasing dosage can result too much insulin which in turn can cause higher BG measurements that indicate the need for more insulin. The people here can help you get Riley on a good diet and help with dosing advice to get him regulated.
There's a ton on information in the stickies at the top of the forums as well in in posts. It is going to take time to read and learn.
I think the most important things to focus on first:
- testing and getting curves
- food
The carb level in foods make a huge impact on diabetes. My cat seems to be in remission solely from food change. But every cat is different and if you look at some spreadsheets, you'll see that some cats can go through cycles and others stay well regulated. But without the testing before each insulin shot, you will never know whether your cat's diabetes is being well managed or not.
The people here have many years of experience treating diabetic cats and are the best source of advice.
The best advice for diabetes will be from someone with experience managing the disease. Your vet likely does not have that experience. I read post after post of vet advice to increase dosage. And increase again. Diabetes is very complicated and the organs react in unexpected ways. Increasing dosage can result too much insulin which in turn can cause higher BG measurements that indicate the need for more insulin. The people here can help you get Riley on a good diet and help with dosing advice to get him regulated.
There's a ton on information in the stickies at the top of the forums as well in in posts. It is going to take time to read and learn.
I think the most important things to focus on first:
- testing and getting curves
- food
The carb level in foods make a huge impact on diabetes. My cat seems to be in remission solely from food change. But every cat is different and if you look at some spreadsheets, you'll see that some cats can go through cycles and others stay well regulated. But without the testing before each insulin shot, you will never know whether your cat's diabetes is being well managed or not.
The people here have many years of experience treating diabetic cats and are the best source of advice.
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